Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center – Featuring more than 200 shows and events each year, and utilizing nearly one million square feet of indoor floor space, the complex is one of the premier event locations in Pennsylvania. The flexibility of the complex allows it to host major events around the entire facility, a private meeting, or anything in between. This facility welcomes us with lots of elbow room ~ spacious Exhibit Hall and newly remodeled rooms for workshops and seminars.

The Farm Show concessionaire will have a variety of food available in a Food Court – everything from a cafeteria line with multiple choices to fast food stands for a quick bite to eat. Prices can be similar as amusement park pricing. No food or drink may be brought into the Farm Show building by order of the Farm Show. You are welcome to bring your own food to be stored in a cooler in your car and return to your car to eat your lunch. Unfortunately, there are restaurants in the vicinity, but very few within walking distance. Please be above reproach and respect the rules of the facility (This is not CHAP’s rule, but the Farm Show’s policy).

The Farm Show has several ATM machines inside the complex buildings and also a drive-up machine outside the Cameron Street Lobby. Please consult your complex map for exact location denoted “$.”

Parking is available on site for $8 per vehicle. If the main lot becomes full, overflow parking will be available off-site for $8 per vehicle in the parking lot at the corner of Elmerton Avenue and Sycamore Drive (watch for signs off I-81 and Cameron Street) and includes shuttle bus service to the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center. This parking fee is the Farm Show’s policy and a requirement. CHAP does not have control over it.

The emergency phone number for the Farm Show Complex during the hours of the convention is 717-783-2815.

CHAP Booth – full of helpful information

Make the CHAP Booth your first stop for information. It is moving its location to right inside the convention registration area.

New to Homeschooling?

Plan to visit the CHAP Booth Table in the Exhibit Hall, where experienced home educators will be happy to assist you as you start your homeschooling journey!

If you are new to the Farm Show Complex you might want to take advantage of one of the free convention tour guides CHAP has to help you navigate. This service is available from the CHAP Booth; we also have Homeschool Mentors to help those new to homeschooling or if you just want one-on-one discussion time with a seasoned homeschooler.

Young Adults, Teens, and Pre-teens

We are thrilled when your pre-teens, teens, and young adults attend the Convention with you! Their hearts are stirred and their vision solidified when they see hundreds of families who are walking the same path. We applaud parents who are striving to give their children a vision of being adults, rather than the cultural norm of prolonged irresponsibility. We desire to have the next generation gain a vision for their future and what the Lord wants to do in their lives!

Teen Track – Each year, CHAP offers a teen track especially geared for young adults. The 2015 Teen Track will have a variety of speakers covering worldview, science, entrepreneurship, statesmanship – all topics to interest and educate your teens.

Children’s Program – Each year, CHAP offers a children’s program especially geared for children ages 5 to 12. We are excited this year to have Patch the Pirate leading the CHAP Children’s Program.

Check the CHAP Convention webpage for more information on these optional programs and for information on the general workshops which would be of interest to your children and teens.

The Convention is designed for parents to examine and purchase curriculum and attend seminars and workshops for encouragement, inspiration, and education. Childcare is not provided. The parents of children and teens attending the Convention must also be in

attendance at the Convention for safety and liability reasons. Children must be supervised at all times by a parent. Children may attend seminar sessions with a parent as long as they are quiet.

As always, please caution your children and teens to stay with their group and to be aware of their surroundings. The CHAP Convention takes place in a public building that has multiple functions going on during the CHAP Convention.

Children & Nursing Infants

CHAP’s primary goal is to minister to parents who can, in turn, educate their children! We feel that children will benefit more in the long run from having parents attend the convention than from being there themselves. If you do need to bring your children under 11 years of age, please help keep the convention enjoyable and peaceful by abiding by these rules:

Nursing infants (15 months & under) may come free with their parents. Due to our roomier facility, strollers are permitted, but large suitcases, wagons, and large carts are not permitted.

Nursing Mother’s Room – An area will be available for nursing mothers, but baby-care products are not provided. Only very young children may accompany their mothers into the Nursing Mother’s Room, located in the Vendor Hall.

Children (16 months through 12 years) may attend with their parents and must always be accompanied by an adult.

Workshop & Keynote Sessions: Please be considerate! Young children or nursing infants and their parents should sit near the door of the room, and children who fidget or talk and babies who make disturbing noises – even happy ones – should be removed immediately! Young children under 13 are not permitted to ask questions during any of the sessions. This is an opportunity for educators to educate themselves.

Children under 13 cannot be left unattended and must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Pastors

We desire for pastors and grandparents to understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it! So please encourage your pastor and his wife to attend this convention!

Questions About the Convention?

Please do not call Farm Show Complex as they are not able to answer questions about the convention.

Online – The website will be updated with any changes and late-breaking news about this convention as it becomes available.

Social Media – The CHAP Facebook page can be accessed for convention news. Your family will enjoy seeing what’s happening at the convention while you’re away – and maybe even you! Encourage them to drop by!

Volunteers make the difference!

Hello!

This is Darra McDowell,CHAP Volunteer Coordinator, and I am so excited about this year’s convention! I want to personally invite you to join our team at convention! Please serve for a few hours to help and encourage the other homeschoolers attending. Did you know CHAP is run mostly by volunteers and the organization of the yearly CHAP Convention requires over 400 volunteers to make it run smoothly?

You can make a difference by volunteering a few hours of your time during the 2-day Convention.

-These volunteer positions take little or no training.

-Orientation letter will be given online before the convention.

-Parents, grandparents, even teens, can be of service.

-Volunteers are rebated the registration fee for serving.

-As an added bonus, Friday morning early-bird shopping at the Used Curriculum Sale is open only to volunteers.